Valve mechanism with metering ball for aerosol pressure containers



2 Sheets-Sheet 2 R. FOCHT AEROSOL PRESSURE CONTAINERS Feb. 16, 1965 Filed Dec. 17, 1962 w w .7 4| R C v M g m a G/ m In 3 e 0 M s W x WW a 1 m m v% I a mg W a M WM urw N w H w a m M\- w 0 hn/m 2 w M w Q M w W N V m Q N a 3 Q NQ t a W N M t w W S V V 2 '0 MN .m Em NS I l J M1 on EZS United States Patent 3,169,677 VALVE MECHANISM WlITHjMETERING BALL FOR AEROSOL PRESSURE CONTAINERS John Richard Focht, Yonkers, N. assignor to Precision Valve Corporation, Yonkers, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Dec. 17, 1962, Ser. No. 245,166 Claims priority, application France, Dec. 20, 1961, 882,526 6 Claims. (Cl. 222-394) The present invention relates to improvements in the dispensing device of containers containing a liquid product under pressure and designed to permit the discharge of a predetermined quantity of said product.

More specifically the present invention is directed to a particular arrangement of the valving device fitted on the aerosol pressure containers which are employed, as is already known, for the purpose of spraying into the atmosphere such varied products as bactericides, insecticides, deodorants and the like. The invention still remains applicable, however, if the product dispensed is not in the aerosol state but consists of a foam, a cream or a paste or the like.

In a general manner, the containers which are contemplated by the present invention will be designated as dispenser containers in the description which follows below.

In devices of this type, attempts have been made for the purpose of certain applications to find a means of dispensing a constant, metered quantity of product at each operation of the container, which in that case is referred to as a metering container.

In the class of metering containers it is known, for example as disclosed in US. Patent No. 2,778,543 of January 22, 1957, to position a moveable ball in the interior of the tube which supplies the valve and which is immersed in the liquid in the container. When pressure is applied on the push button which forms the valve head, the valve is accordingly caused to open. The difference in prevailing pressures between the interior of the dispenser container and the outside air causes a column of liquid to rise inside the eduction tube. The flow of liquid carries with it the ball which thus rises with the liquid until said ball finally closes the orifice of the 'valve body. The delivery then stops and the ball returns downwards. The quantity of liquid dispensed corresponds to the height of the liquid column inside the eductor tube between the valve opening and the ball. The rest position of said ball can additionally be adjusted by means of a stop which passes through the eductor tube.

This simple and inexpensive system is nevertheless attended by certain disadvantages which limit the use thereof. In particular, when the ball has reached the top position, there is frequently a delay before it returns downwards since it remains applied against the communication orifice as a result of difierential pressure. In consequence, it is not possible to dispense repeated doses within short periods of time.

In order to overcome this disadvantage, it has been proposed to form in the stationary valve body a notch designed to connect the interior of the eduction tube to the orifice which is destined to be closed ofi by the ball;

Under these conditions, when the ball finally strikes against the stationary valve body, the jet is no longer totally interrupted but is subjected to a reduction of in tensity which is sufiicient to indicate to the user that the requisite dose has been dispensed. When the user releases the push-button, the liquid which passes through the notch then fills the interior of the valve body, with the result that the pressures prevailing on each side of the ball are restored to a state of equilibrium, thereb permitting the ball to return downwards.

However, this solution involves a certain number of practical structural difiiculties:

Above all in a body of molded plastic material, it is difiicult to form a notch of sufficiently smallsize to en- :sure that the reduction in jet intensity is appreciable.

If the notch is small, it is accordingly liable to choke, and in any case the return of the pressures to a state of equilibrium is a slow process. It is therefore not possible to dispense two doses in close succession, that is to say at time intervals, for example, of less than 10 to 15 seconds.

If the valvebody is of molded plastic material, the successive impacts of the ball against the bottom orifice produce a strain-hardening effect which is of only slight extent but nevertheless sufiicient to result in unsatisfactory operation of the dispenser after delivery of only a few doses.

The improvements contemplated by the present invention have for their object to overcome the numerous disadvantages referred to above while at the same time retaining the general system of quantity regulation or metering by means of a captive ball.

Still further objects of the invention will become apparent when the specification proceeds.

In accordance with the present invention, the pushbutton valve for a metering container with captive ball and comprising a sliding valve core, coupled to the control push-button, is mainly characterized in that the core has an extended portion in the form of a nozzle which permits of communication between the valve body and the eduction tube, said nozzle being adapted to penetrate inside said eduction tube as and when the valve is operated, in such manner that the projecting portion of said nozzle receives the metering ball and is closed ofi by said ball when said ball reaches the top end of the eduction tube, the withdrawal of the nozzle inside the valve body then resulting in the release of said metering ball.

The terminal portion of the valve body which is housed inside the eduction tube is preferably designed to provide a communication of appreciable section between said eduction tube and the interior of said valve body, even if the ball comes up against said terminal portion and accompanies the movable nozzle when this latter withdraws inside said valve body after the push-button has been released. Accordingly, the pressures which prevail with a certain play inside the valve body and fitted a closing member or obturator which, in the open position of the valve is brought to bear on a seating formed around the orifice of the conduit joining the valve body to the eduction tube, in such manner that in the operating position, the liquid is able to penetrate inside the valve body only by flowing through the passage of the movable nozzle.

Further particular features of the invention will further be brought out by the description which follows below. The accompanying drawings illustrate one practical embodiment of the present invention but the construc- FIG. 2 shows the valve of the preceding metering container in the open position thereof, as seen in axial cross-section and on a larger scale with parts broken away.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing the valve in the closed position, the cross-section of the lower por-' tion of said valve being taken along the orthogonal cutting plane III-III of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an external elevation of the valve core and stem of the preceding figures;

FIG. 5 is an axial cross-section of another type of valve in accordance with the invention.

In the form of construction described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4, there is shown at 1 the container proper which contains the liquid 14) to be dispensed, the said liquid being maintained under gaseous pressure, for example by means of a dissolved liquefied gas.

The container or can 1 is closed by a rolled-in cover 2 in which is fitted the dispensing valve 3. This latter is provided with a stationary valve body or housing '7 forming a terminal portion over which is fitted an eduction tube .4 which is immersed in the liquid 1%. The eduction tube 4 contains a metering ball 5 which is stopped in the bottom position thereof by means of a locking pin,

2%. The body 7 of the valve is provided at the top portion thereof with an annular bulge 12 around which the cover 2 is crimpcd in such manner as to imprison a flexible sealing disk 11. The body 7 is hollowed-out internally so as to form a chamber 13 which communicates through.

a bore 15 with the interior of the eduction tube 4. Inside the chamber 13 is adapted to move a sliding system comprising a valve core 8 with upwardly extending tube or valve stem 1'7 which passes through the sealing disk 11 and on which is mounted the push-button 6. A necked portion 21 is formed at the point of junction of the core 6 and the tube 17. The external diameter of the necked portion 21 corresponds to the diameter of the central opening formed in the sealing disk 11, as described in US. Patent No. 2,631,814, granted to R. H. Abplanalp' March 17, 1953.

Radial conduits 22 which are formed at the level of the necked portion 21 serve to establish communication between the chamber 13 and the passage of the tube or valve stem 17 which communicates with the outer air through an orifice 23 formed in the pushbutton 6.

A spring 9 housed in the chamber 13 and which is applied against the bottom of this latter and against the core 8 urges the latter towards its top position (as shown in FIG. 3) in which the sealing disk 11 is applied against the conduits 22 and efiects fluid-tight obturation of these latter, whereupon the dispenser-container is in sealed condition.

If the push-button 6 is pressed down in the direction F, thereby compressing the spring 9 (as shown in FIG. 2), the core 8 is thus caused to move downwardly. The inner margin of the sealing isk accompanies the tube 17 in this movement and accordingly uncovers the orifices of the conduits 22. A free passageway is thus formed between the interior of the dispenser container and the exterior, thereby permitting the liquid 10, which is supplied from the eductiontube 4, to escape by flowing through the conduits 22, the tube 17 and the orifice 23 of the push-button 6. Depending on the nature of the liquid phase, the projection of either a foam or an aerosol accordingly results.

The sealing member and core form a manually operable main discharge valve between the valve housing chamber and the passage through the valve stem.

This type of valve and its mode of operation are known per se (see Abplanalp patent, supra), and have been referred to in the foregoing as a preliminary explanation, only in order that the object of the invention proper may be more readily understood in the description which new follows below.

In accordance with the present invention, the sliding core 8 has a downwardly extending tubular nozzle 16 which is housed inside the bore 15 of the valve body 7. The internal passage 31 of the nozzle 16 communicates through radial conduits 32 with the chamber 13.

The length of the nozzle 16 is such that in the rest position (or closed position of FIG. 3), the full length of said nozzle is housed inside the valve body 7, whereas in the open position of the dispenser container (as shown in FIG. 2), one portion 16a of the nozzle 16 projects from the terminal face 33 of the body 7 and accordingly penetrates inside the eduction tube 4.

In the preferred form of construction shown in FIG- URES 1-4, it is further intended that the body 7 of the valve 3 should be providedwith a 'diametral V-notch 34 which is formed in theterminal face 33 of said valve body and which extends from the outer periphery up to the bore 15. The technical value of this arrangement will be explained below.

In accordance with a further improvement provided by the present invention, provision is made for a frustoconical seating 18 having a summit angle a which is, for example, equal to 30 with respect to the axis of the bore 15, the said seating being formedin the place at which thebore 15 opens into the chamber 13.

As faras the nozzle 16 is concerned, there is provided above the latter an annular bulge 19 which forms a frusto-conical bearing surface 35 having a summit angle .b which is different from a and is equal to 60 with respect to the axis of the bore 15 in the example described.

The technical effect produced as a result of the arrangements contemplated by the present invention is as follows: if pressure is applied on the push-button 6, the core 8 moves downwards and projects at the end 16a of the nozzle 16 beyond the terminal face 33 of the valve body 7. The liquid contained in the eduction tube 4 and propelled by the gas pressure flows through the passage 31 of the nozzle 16, through the conduits 32 and enters the chamber 13 so as to fill the latter. Thereafter, the said liquidpasses through the conduits 22 to the discharge orifice 23 as indicated above.

At the end of the period of time allowed for the delivery of a quantity of liquid corresponding to one dose, the ball 5 engages the end 16a of the nozzle 16 and accordingly shuts off the conduit 31 (position 5a of FIG. 2).

When observing that no further liquid is supplied from the dispenser container, the user accordingly releases the button 6. The nozzle 16 then withdraws its full length intothe conduit 15 while first drawing the ball upwards with it. However, when the ball reaches position 5b, it is stopped by the wall 33 of the valve body 7. The resulting impact is usually sufiicient to cause the ball to fall back of its own accord inside the ,eduction tube 4.

In any case, the notch 34 is never obturatcd even when the ball is located in position 5b. The notch forms a fluid bypass around the ball and thus provides free communication between the chamber 13 and the interior of the eduction tube 4, thereby permitting of very rapid equalization of the pressures prevailing on each side of the ball surface. All the requisite conditions are therefore satisfied with a view to ensuring that the ball falls back as soon as the button 6 has returned to the closed position, thereby making it possible to dispense a further dose within a very short period.

By virtue of the different angles of slope of the seating 18 and the bearing surface 35, contact is made between these two surfaces over a zone of very small width when the button 6 is depressed. Consequently, even if strainhardening does occur after repeated operation of the dispenser container, the zone of contact remains sufficiently small to ensure that fluid-tightness is not affected.

In consequence, it is possible to allow a sufficient clearance for the nozzle 16 inside the passage 31 so as to permit said nozzle to slide freely even in the event of swelling of these components in contact with the liquid It Any operation involving either machining or fitting of the two components in relation to each other therefore becomes unnecessary inasmuch as, whatever the clearance provided, the fluid-tightness of the junction between the valve body 7 and the sliding core 8 ensures complete stoppage of the supply from the dispenser container when the conduit 31 is obturated by the ball.

The invention is not limited to the constructional arrangement described and can be applied to all ball metering containers having valves which comprise a sliding obturator. An application of this type has been shown in FIG. 5. In this version, the valve comprises a sliding core 41 which terminates at the top in a collar 42 which is brought to bear against a flexible sealing member 43. The said sealing member 43 also grips the tube 44 which carries the push-button 6.

A recessed portion 45 formed in the base of the tube 44 extends above the collar 42 and below the sealing member 43.

The valve body '7 is provided with grooves 46 so as to permit the liquid to rise between said body and the core 41 and is terminated by an end-piece 47 over which is fitted the eduction tube 4 and which is provided with a notch 43 similar to the notch 34 previously referred to.

As in the previous form of embodiment, the core 41 has an extension in the form of a nozzle 16 which is partially housed inside the end-piece 4'7.

The remainder of the structure is similar to that which has been described above.

Vlhen the button 6 is depressed, the liquid it) flows through the passage 31 of the nozzle 16, through the grooves 46 and through that portion of the recession portion 45 which is located between the joint '43 and the collar 42.

It is also obvious that it would be feasible, without thereby departing from the scope of the invention, to replace the notch 34 which is formed at the bottom of the valve body by other means adapted to provide a communication between the eduction tube 4 and the passage 31. For example, the face 33 in the form of embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 4 could be fitted with a ring of studs which serves to hold the ball 5 at a certain distance away from the mouth of the conduit 15, the height of the studs or pins being less than the length of the projecting end-portion 16:: of the nozzle 16.

The foregoing detailed description sets forth the invention in its preferred practical forms, but the invention is to be understood as fully commensurate with the appended claims.

Having thus fully described the invention, What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A dispensing apparatus for pressure packed fluids comprising: a valve housing with a chamber in its upper portion and a bore through its lower portion and provided at its lower end with a depending eduction tube with a metering ball disposed within and longitudinally movable within said tube, in combination with a valve core provided with an upstanding valve stem extending to'the exterior of the housing and having therein a discharge passage, a normally sealed manually operative main discharge valve between the chamber of the housing and the passage of the valve stem to control discharge f fluid from said chamber, a tubular nozzle on the valve core having therein a passage leading to said chamber, said nozzle extending downwardly through said bore and being or" snfiicient length to extend beyond the lower edge of said here when the valve core is depressed to unseal the main discharge valve to thereby provide a sealing seat at the projected end of the nozzle with the metering ball when the metering ball is near the top of the eduction tube and the length of the nozzle limited such that it is retractable within the bore when the main discharge valve is sealed.

2. A dispensing apparatus according to claim 1 comprising: cooperating opposed sealingabutments on the valve core and housing to engage one another and preclude leakage between the bore and nozzle when the main discharge valve is unsealed.

3. A dispensing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the cooperating abutments are both frusto-conical in form and of different angulari-ty.

4. A dispensing apparatus according to claim 1 comprising: a fluid bypass formed in the housing around the ball when the latter is in engagement with the valve housing and the nozzle has been freed from engagement with the ball to permit equalization of pressures on the upper and lower sides of the ball.

5. A dispensing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the fluid bypass comprises a notch formed in the lower edge of the valve housing.

6. A dispensing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the bypasscomprises pins on the bottom of the housing to preclude closing of the passage of the valve housing by the ball when the nozzle is elevated from engagement with the ball.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,532,144 11/50 Brown.

2,550,840 5/51 Martin et a1. 222464 X 2,624,623 1/53 Saacke 222464 X 2,631,814 3/53' Abplanalp.

2,705,094 3/55 Howell 222335 2,77 8,543 1/57 Urlaub.

2,780,492 2/57 Stine 137-519 X 2,828,892 4/58 Ward.

2,912,173 11/59 Edwards 239573 X 3,018,928 1/62 Meshberg 222335 FOREIGN PATENTS 43 8,467 11/ 35 Great Britain.

RAPHAEL M. LUPO, Primary Examiner. 

1. A DISPENSING APPARATUS FOR PRESSURE PACKED FLUIDS COMPRISING: A VALVE HOUSING WITH A CHAMBER IN ITS UPPER PORTION AND A BORE THROUGH ITS LOWER PORTION AND PROVIDED AT ITS LOWER END WITH A DEPENDING EDUCATION TUBE WITH A METERING BALL DISPOSED WITHIN AND LONGITUDINALLY MOVABLE WITHIN SAID TUBE, IN COMBINATION WITH A VALVE CORE PROVIDED WITH AN UPSTANDING VALVE STEM EXTENDING TO THE EXTERIOR OF THE HOUSING AND HAVING THEREIN A DISCHARGE PASSAGE, A NORMALLY SEALED MANUALLY OPERATIVE MAIN DISCHARGE VALVE BETWEEN THE CHAMBER OF THE HOUSING AND THE PASSAGE OF THE VALVE STEM TO CONTROL DISCHARGE OF FLUID FROM SAID CHAMBER, A TUBULAR NOZZLE ON THE VALVE CORE HAVING THEREIN A PASSAGE LEADING TO SAID CHAMBER, SAID NOZZLE EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY THROUGH SAID BORE AND BEING OF SUFFICIENT LENGTH TO EXTEND BEYOND THE LOWER EDE OF SAID BORE WHEN THE VALVE CORE IS DEPRESSED TO UNSEAL THE MAIN DISCHARGE VALVE TO THEREBY PROVIDE A SEALING SEAT AT THE PROJECTED END OF THE NOZZLE WITH THE METERING BALL WHEN THE METERING BALL IS NEAR THE TOP OF THE EDUCATION TUBE AND THE LENGTH OF THE NOZZLE LIMITED SUCH THAT IT IS RETRACTABLE WITHIN THE BORE WHEN THE MAIN DISCHARGE VALVE IS SEALED. 